The International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) has reported a half-year 2021 net loss of €2.05 billion or (€0.412) per share on a year-over-year revenue decline of 58.2 percent to €2.2 billion. On June 30, 2021, the Group had €10.2 billion in available liquidity.
On Friday (July 30, 2021), the International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) reported their second quarter and first half 2021 (H1) financial results for the period ending June 30, 2021. The Group reported a second quarter 2021 net loss of €981 million on a 77 percent year-over-year increase in revenue to €1.2 billion and a H1 net loss of €2.05 billion or (€0.412) per share on a 58.2 percent decline in revenue versus the first half of 2020 to €2.2 billion. IAG ended the second quarter with €7.7 billion in cash, up from €1.7 billion on December 31, 2021. The Group also has committed and undrawn general and aircraft credit facilities of €2.5 billion, bringing total liquidity to €10.2 billion. Pro forma liquidity increases to €10.8 billion when British Airways’ sustainability-linked EETC financing executed in July is included. The Group’s Net debt at the end of the period was €12.1 billion, compared to €9.8 billion on December 31, 2021.
In Friday’s announcement, IAG’s Chief Executive Officer, Luis Gallego, said,
“In the short term, our focus is on ensuring our operational readiness, so we have the flexibility to capitalize on an environment where there’s evidence of widespread pent-up demand when travel restrictions are lifted. This is reflected in Iberia’s and Vueling’s results. They were the best performers within the group in the second quarter reflecting stronger Latin American and Spanish domestic markets driven by fewer travel restrictions. We know that recovery will be uneven, but we’re ready to take advantage of a surge in air travel demand in line with increasing vaccination rates.
“We welcome the recent announcement that fully vaccinated travellers from amber countries in the EU and the US will no longer have to quarantine upon arrival in the UK. We see this as an important first step in fully re-opening the transatlantic travel corridor. All our airlines continue to take significant actions to preserve their strength through the current pandemic and to position them for recovery. We continue to build resilience by preserving cash, boosting liquidity and reducing our cost base. At 30 June, the Group’s liquidity was €10.2 billion with a significant improvement in operating cash flow compared to previous quarters.
“Longer term we’re preparing our business so that we can emerge stronger and more competitive in a structurally changed industry. For example, we’re accelerating the digitalization of our business and our agreements with unions are enabling us to improve productivity and reduce our cost base while increasing the proportion of variable costs. We remain resolute in our climate commitments. Recently, British Airways successfully raised $785 million through an EETC financing linked to the airline’s sustainability targets. We have also been upgraded by the CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) to A- in recognition of our comprehensive carbon management strategy. IAG is the only European airline group that has been awarded this high grade.”
Passenger capacity for the second quarter was 21.9 percent of 2019 levels and the Group currently plans to operate around 45 percent of 2019 capacity during the third quarter. During the second quarter, the Group operated 1,371 cargo-only flights, up from 1,306 in Q1.
Financing initiatives during H1 2021 include the drawdown of previously committed borrowing for British Airways of £2.0 billion from UK Export Finance and Aer Lingus’ drawdown of the remaining €75 million against the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund Facility. Additionally, the Group issued €1.2 billion in IAG Senior Unsecured Bonds and €825 million in IAG Convertible Bonds, with both issues oversubscribed. The company also concluded an agreement for a new 3-year secured revolving credit facility for British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus, which remains undrawn. As previously mentioned, a sustainability-linked EETC financing for British Airways was executed in July for the airline’s remaining 2021 fleet deliveries, with total financing of $785 million to be drawn.
In trading Friday afternoon, shares in the International Consolidated Airlines Group (LON: IAG) were down 7.45% to GBp 168.30 per share (Jul 30, 2021 4:29 PM GMT+1).
Source: IAG – LEI: 959800TZHQRUSH1ESL13
Comments